Machine for forming tampons



Nov. 25, 1941. J WEBB 2,263,909

MACHINE FOR FORMING TAMPONS Original Filed Jime'29; 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet1 Nov.25, 1941. WE T 2,263,909

MACHINE FOR- FORMING TAMPONS Original Filed June 29, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet2 6353 I I X 7i 5 0 a 4 1 7 ,5 39 II 16 5 z B "l r 14 57 57 2 54 3' 3435 17 i 52 3 36 27 15 L L 2 In .1 6

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7IIIIIIIIIIII Patented Nov. 25, 1941 MACHINE FOR- FORMING 'I AMTPONSJohn L. Webb, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Universal Cotton Products Corporation, LosAngeles, Calif., a corpora...

tion of Delaware Original application June 29, 1936, Serial '.No.87,866. Divided and this application January 14, 1939, Serial No.250,983

v 11 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of bodies of fibrous materialsuch as cotton for use in absorbing moisture and fluids in body cavitiesand to methods and machines for forming such bodies. with themanufacture of vaginal tampons which consist of cylindrical or prismaticbodies of cotton or similar absorbent fibrous material compressedlaterally substantially to the limit of compressibility of the material.Such tampons are relatively rigid, compact and self-retaining, retainingtheir compressed dimensions so long as they remain dry but when wettedthey quickly expand and become soft and absorbent.

This is a division of my application Serial No. 87,866, filed June 29,1936, entitled Tampon and method of and machine for forming it.

An object of the invention is to produce a compressed tampon in shapeapproximating a cylinder or a prism in which the fibrous material iscompressed substantially radially inwardly from all sides whereby thetampon when moistened is free to expand radially substantiallyuniformlyin all directions from the axis of the Such a tampon expandsmore unitampon. formly and fully than does one made by compressing amass of fibrous material in one or two directions'only.

Another object is to increase the speed and reduce the cost of makinglaterally compressed tampons.

Another object is to provide an automatic machine capable of operatingcontinuously to compress tampons.

Various other objects and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the following detailed description which-refers to the drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation view of a complete machine in accordance with theinvention with part of the casing broken away to show the interiormechanism, the view being taken in the direction I in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the compressing machine with the upper frameplate removed to show the compressing jaws;

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Fig. 2 with the mechanism in adifferent phase of its operation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view of the main portion of the machine,the section being taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view through one of the links actuating thecompressing levers,

It has to do more specifically the section being taken along the lineV-V in Fig. 6 is a sectional view through one of the compressing levers,the section being taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a detail sectional view showing the tampon supporting gate,the section beingtaken along the line VII -VII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a cylindrical tampon adapted to be compressedin accordance with the invention;

Fig. 9 is a side View of. the tampon after being compressed in mymachine; and

, Fig. 10 is a detail elevation viewof certain elements of the machinewhich appear in plan inFig. 2. l

The machine to be described operates on loose,

approximately cylindrical tampons. such as .of fibrous material I havinga pull string 2 imbedded therein. The loose tampons shown in Fig. 8 maybe formed in any desired manner and the pull string 2 may be anchored inany desired manner, such methods not constituting a part of the presentinvention. However, the

loose tampons shown in Fig. 8 may be conveniently formed by windingastrip of cotton intoa loose roll of desired dimensions.

. The machine shown in Fig. 1 is adapted to receive large, loose,cylindrical tampons l, compress them into compact formanddischarge them;Thus, as shown in Fig. 1, the loose tampons may be continuouslydelivered by a belt conveyor3 to the hopper or chute 4 of a compressingmachine 5, from which after compression they drop onto a second conveyorbelt 6 which carries them away to be packed. The

unit 5 isprovided with a pulley 1 which. may be driven through a belt8from the pulley 9 of an electric motor 10. Both the motor I0 and thecompressing unit 5 may be supported upon a suitable bench or table II.

Referring now to Fig. 4, the compressing machine 5 comprises asupporting frame consisting of a base plate l2 which may be anchored tothe supporting table or bench II in any convenient manner, a secondplate l3 positioned above the base plate l2, a third plate l4 positionedabove the plate l3, and an upper plate I5 positioned above the thirdplate.- The plate [3 is supported from the plate 12 by pillars l6 andplates l4 and 15 are connected together and supported from the plate l3by pillars l1 and I8. The pillars I6 may 7 be threaded at their lowerends into the plate l2 and have reduced threaded portions at the upperend which pass through apertures provided therefor in the plate I 3 andare locked to the plate l3 by nuts IS. The pillars H may likewise havereduced end portions threaded in the plate l3 and reduced upper endsections which pass through apertures provided therefor in the plate l4and screw into the lower ends of the pillars N3, the latter havingreduced upper end sections which pass through the plate l5 and areprovided with retaining nuts 20. A cylindrical dust cover 2| fits aboutthe plates l2, l3 and I5 and extends over the top of the plate I5 and isshaped to define the chute 4. However, cover 2| does not form any partof the frame of the machine.

Centrally disposed within the machine is a shaft 23 which is rotatablymounted by a ball bearing 24 in the plate l2 and by bushings 25 and 26in the plates l3 and I4, respectively. The ball bearing 24 supports theweight of the shaft and the parts connected thereto in addition toabsorbing lateral thrust. The bushings 25 and 23 with a pinion 29 keyedto the shaft 30 which supports the drive pulley I. The shaft 30 isrotatably supported in bushings 3| and 32 in the plates l2 and I3,respectively. It is apparent, therefore, that shaft 23 is rotatedthrough pinion 29 and gear 28 in response to rotation of the drivepulley 1. The shaft 23 also has keyed thereto between the plates [3 andI4 a small gear 33 which meshes with five gears 34 positioned inplanetary fashion concentrically about the shaft 23, each gear34 beingpinned to a shaft 35 rotatably supported in bushings 36 and 31 in theplates l3 and M, respectively. These shafts extend through and beyondthe bushings 31 above the plate [4 and terminate in crank arms 38 havingcrank pins 39 which actuate the tampon compressing members.

Thus referring to Fig. 2, each crank pin 39 is coupled through a pitman40 to the end of the long arm 4| of a lever 42 fulcrumed on a stationarypin 43 and having a short arm 44, the inner end of which constitutes oneof the tampon compressing jaws. As the shafts 35 rotate, the levers 42are oscillated back and forth between the positions shown in Fig. 2 and-Fig. 3, respectively. In Fig. 3 the jaws are in open position in whichthere is ample space between them to receive the uncompressed tampon andin Fig. 2 the jaws are shown in fully closed position in which they havecompressed the tampon substantially to the limit of compressibility ofthe material of which it is constructed.

Referring now to Fig. 5, which shows in detail the construction of thepitmans 40, each pitman consists of an elongated member 45 having atransverse journal 46 in one end to receive the associated driving pin39 and having a longitudinal recess in the other end, this recessreceiving a rod 41 which is pivotally connected at its outer end by apin 48 to the bifurcated end of the long arm 4| of the associated lever42. The rod 41 is threaded on its inner end into a bushing 49 whichis'fitted for longitudinal sliding movement within the member 45 andbears against a helical compression spring 50 which is retained by abushing 51 threaded into the outer end of the member 45. The spring 50is relatively stiff and normally maintains the inner end of the rod 4!against the end of the recess in member 45. The function of this springis to permit the pitman to yield slightly in response to excessiveresistance to movement of the associated lever 42 and prevent stallingof the driving motor or breakage of the machine. Resiliently yieldablepitman rods are quite essential in a machine of the type described forthe reason that the tampons are compressed substantially to the limit ofcompressibility of the material and, if an oversized tampon wereintroduced or should some solid object be introduced between the jaws,the jaws would be prevented from assuming their closed position, asshown in Fig. 2 and some part of the machine would then be broken if thedriving motor did not stall. The tension of the spring 50 may beadjusted by disconnecting the rod 41 from the associated lever andscrewing the rod in or out of the bushing 49. To prevent rotation of thebushing 49, the latter is provided with a longitudinal slot 55 intowhicha pin 56 projects from the member 45.

The pins 43 upon which the levers 42 are fulcrumed may be screwed intothreaded apertures provided therefor in the plate 14, as shown in Fig.6. The upper ends of these pins 43 may extend into apertures providedtherefor in the upper plate l5 so that they are supported at both ends.

Referring for the moment to Fig. 1, the tampons I may be suppliedcontinuously to the compressing machine 5 by the belt conveyer 3 and thetampons may be so spaced along the belt relative to the speed of thelatter as to drop a tampon into the hopper 4 periodically as thecompressing jaws assume their open position, as shown in Fig. 3, thetampons falling directly from the chute 4 into space between the openjaws. It is necessary, however, to support the tampons at the level ofthe jaws until the jaws close sufficiently to engage the tampons. -To

-' this end, a tampon supporting gate is provided immediately below thejaws, this gate consisting of a fiat bar 51 which is slidablelongitudinally in a recess or groove provided therefor in the upperface'of the plate I4.' The upper end'of the bushing 26 is also cut awayon one side to accommodate the gate 51, the inner end of the gate beingroundedas shown in Fig. 2 to fit against the bushing. The gate member 51extends radially with respect to the axis of the shaft 23 out beyond theplate I4 and is provided on its outer end with an actuating roller 58which extends down below the plate l4 into the path of an actuatingspring'lever 59 which, as shown in Fig. 10, is supported at one end tothe periphery of the plate [4 as by screws 60.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the spring lever 59 normally rests looselyagainst the roller 58 when the gate member 51 is in innermost position,the latter being retained in this position by a tension spring 6|anchored to the plate l4. The

away from the passage 21 in the shaft 23, permitting the compressedtampon to drop away from the compressing jaws. As the roller 62continues its travel it passes beyond the end of the spring lever 59,permitting the gate member to be snapped back by the spring 6! and closethe upper end of the passage 21 by the time the compressing jaws havefully opened and a new tampon has been delivered thereto.

It will be observed from inspection of Figs. 2 and 3 that the tips ofthe short arms 44 of the levers 42, which constitute the compressingjaws, have compressing motions which may be resolved into rotary andradial components with respect to the central axis of the machine.However, the rotary components of the motions of these jaws produce nocompressing eifect on a tampon positioned therebetween for the reasonthat the latter is freely supported by the jaws and rotates in responseto the rotary components of movements of the jaws. Therefore, the onlyforce that is ffective to compress the tampon is that resulting from theradial components of the movements of the jaws. As a result, thecompression in the tampon is the same as would result if a plurality ofjaws were forced radially inwardly toward the common axis without havingany rotary component whatsoever. This is an advantageous feature of themachine since any rolling or twisting compressive force on the tamponstends to wrap or twist the fibers so that they do not re-expand, whenwetter, as freely as they do when the compression is substantiallyradial.

In order to provide a larger opening for receiving the loose tampons,the inner sides of the short arms 44 of the levers, when the latter arein open position as shown in Fig. 3, may be made somewhat concave asindicated at 10 to provide a slightly larger opening. However, as soonas the levers have progressed an appreciable distance in theircompressing movement, the concave faces 10 no longer touch the tampons,the tips only of the short arms 44 bearing against the tampons.

It has been found that, although in a machine as described pressure isapplied to a tampon at five distinct circumferentially spaced areas, theresulting tampon has a surface that is relatively smooth and is reallymore cylindrical than prismatic in shape, as would be expected. Thisprobably results from the fact that in their compressing movement thejaws rotate slightly over the surface of the tampon, applying thepressure at slightly different points thereon during the differentstages of compression. Obviously, it is not essential to employ fivecompressing jaws as shown. The number may be increased or may be reducedbut the larger the number of jaws employed the more nearly cylindricalthe finished tampon will be.

Although the invention has been described in detail with reference to aparticular construction, many modifications and departures from theparticular machine shown may be made while still employing the essentialprinciples and features of the invention. The invention is therefore tobe limited only as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine for compressing tampons, a plurality of jaws positionedsymmetrically about a common vertical axis, means for dropping tamponsbetween said jaws, a gate member positioned below said jaws forsupporting tampons dropped between said jaws in position to becompressed by the jaws, means movably supporting each of said jaws formovement toward and away from said common axis, means for simultaneouslymoving said jaws first toward and then away from said axis to cause themto first engage, then compress and then release a tampon positionedtherebetween, and means for opening said gate member in timed relationwith said jaws to permit compressed tampons to drop away from said jawswhen the latter open.

2. A machine as described in claim 1, in which said means for droppingtampons between said jaws includes a chute above said jaws and havingits lower end centrally positioned immediately above said laws forguiding tampons between said jaws.

3. In a machine for compressing tampons, a plurality of compressingmembers positioned symmetrically about a common axis, said compressingmembers comprising tampon-contacting arms pivotally supported forswinging movement about individual axes symmetrically disposed about andparallel to said common axis, means for simultaneously swinging saidarms about their respective axes to cause the ends of said arms toperiodically approach and then recede from said common axis, wherebythey first engage, then compress and then release a tampon positionedtherebetween.

4. A machine as described in claim 3, in which the tampon-contactingarms extend at angles to radii of said common axis when the arms are inopen position and extend substantially radially toward said commonaxiswhen rotated to fully compress a tampon positioned therebetween.

5. A machine as described in claim 3, ,in which the tampon-contactingarms extend at angles to radii of said common axis when the arms are inopen position and extend substantially radially toward said common axiswhen rotated to fully compress a tampon positioned therebetween, saidarms constituting the sole supporting means for a tampon duringcompression of the tampon therebetween.

6. In a machine for compressing tampons, a plurality of compressingmembers positioned symmetrically about a common axis, said compressingmembers comprising levers fulcrumed,

for oscillation about axes parallel to said common axis andsymmetrically disposed thereabout, each lever consisting of a short armadjacent said common axis for contacting and compressing a tamponpositioned at said common axis, and a long arm more remote from saidcommon axis, driving means, and means coupling said long arms of allsaid levers to said driving means for oscillating said levers insynchronism with each other.

7. A machine as described in claim 6, in which said coupling meanscomprises a driving link for each lever connecting to the long arm ofits associated lever, each of said driving links being resilientlyyieldable in response to predetermined force applied thereto to limitthe reactive force of said levers on said driving means to apredetermined value.

8. In a machine for compressing tampons, a plurality of compressingmembers, positioned symmetrically about a common axis, said compressingmembers comprising levers fulcrumed for oscillation about axes parallelto said common axis and symmetrically disposed thereabout, each leverconsisting of a short arm adjacent said common axes for contacting andcompressing a tampon positioned at said common axis and a long arm moreremote from said common axis, a master drive shaft, a plurality ofdriven shafts, one for each lever, disposed about said master driveshaft, means coupling said driven shaft to said master shaft forrotation therewith, crank arms on said driven shafts, and pitman rodscoupling each crank arm to the long arm of the associated lever foroscillating said levers in response to rotation of said master driveshaft.

9. A machine as described in claim 8, in which said pitman rods areresiliently yieldable longitudinally to limit the reactive force of saidlevers on said crank arms to a predetermined value.

10. In a machine for compressing tampons, a plurality of compressingmembers positioned symmetrically about a common vertical axis, a hollowmaster drive shaft positioned below said compressing members and coaxialwith said common axis, said hollow shaft functioning as a dischargepassage for tampons released by said compressing members, means forrotating said master drive shaft, a gear secured to said master driveshaft for rotation therewith, a plurality of gears positioned about saidfirst mentioned gear and meshing therewith, supporting shafts for saidplurality of gears, said shafts being keyed to said gears for rotationthereby, and means coupling each shaft to one of said compressingmembers for moving said compressing members toward and away from saidcommon axis in response to rotation of said shafts, and means forrotating said master shaft.

11. In a machine for compressing substantially cylindrical tampons, aplurality of jaws positioned symmetrically about a common central axis,means supporting each jaw for movement about an individual axis spacedfrom said central axis, means for simultaneously moving all said jawsabout their individual axes between outer and inner positions,respectively, each jaw having a working face angularly disposed to aradius drawn through the face from the associated individual axis, saidface being approximately normal to a radius of said common axis when thejaw is in outer position, said working faces on the different jawstogether defining a discontinuous wall and each of said jaws beingapproximately wedge shaped with said working face constituting one faceof the wedge.

JOHN L. WEBB.

